Here's the wrap of qualifying races held in Australia since last post:

...and now that that comprehensive report is over, let's cast our eyes overseas:


Thursday 13th, August

Vinnie Roe Stakes (Listed) 2800m - https://twitter.com/i/status/1293993489374552064
3yo filly Pista showed some good end-of-race pace to nab the win from Sun Chart and Dawn Patrol. Won her maiden at her second crack and then straight into this Listed race.


Friday 14th, August

Irish St Leger Trial Stakes (G3) 2800m - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYG4A90azis
Is the winner of this race, this year's northern hemisphere 3yo? Delphi leads the whole way, with Master of Reality just falling a nose shy on the line. This is Delphi's 4th straight win this season, following a middling run late last year in his only other career race. The race-time was pretty handy: quicker than any of Order of St George's run of 3-straight victories, and markedly faster than Southern France last year. The St Leger Stakes proper is the next target, held a week before quarantine must begin for any Melbourne Cup aspirants. A lot will become clearer then....


Saturday 15th, August

Geoffrey Freer Stakes (G3) 2660m - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ljkhSlEd9o
Spread out at the finish with Hukum staying strongly ahead of Max Vega and Alignak. Hamada won this race a couple of years ago and came out that same season to Australia, where he was a leading contender for the Cup. Unfortunately he broke down at Werribee during his prep. Hukum's trainer has doubts he'd get much further distance, so unlikely.


Sunday, 16th August

Prix Minerve (G3) 2500m - https://twitter.com/i/status/1295016395743338497
Wonderful Only wins by 2 lengths ahead of Valia with Paix a narrow third. Heavy track, but still the slowest race time in the nearly 25 years it's been held over this course/distance.


Tuesday, 18th August

Criterium du Centre (G3) 2400m - https://twitter.com/i/status/1295776027709407232
Harmonie Star beats Harmonie Sainte, daylight 3rd in this 3yo race. The winner looks very decent, but little chance of coming here, you'd think.


Wednesday, 19th August

Great Voltigeur Stakes (G2) 2400m - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvZsH3z90Ok
Pyledriver was a big winner (over Highland Chief and Mogul), running on well from the rear and putting some space on the rest.


International Stakes (G1) 3200m - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GC8eUdDp2Q
All five of the contesting runners would qualify on the basis of this race. As noted previously, Ghaiyyath is a gun horse - now winning twice since first mentioned in dispatches. It's no secret though, jumping as a $2.30 favourite. Won comfortably by 3 lengths ahead of Magical, Lord North, Kameko, and Rose of Kildare.


Thursday, 20th August

Chester Stakes (Listed) 2900m -
Spanish Mission pulls away late from Selino and Hereby. Newly transferred to trainer Andrew Balding, who has also nominated Kameko for the Cox Plate.

Yorkshire Oaks (G1) 2400m - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poW0kj4ZRho
Love wins by 5 lengths for Aidan O'Brien followed by Alpinista and One Voice. Love is nominated in shorter races next up, so they may think she's beyond her preferred distance range when outside of 3yo company.

Galtres Stakes (Listed) 2400m -
Gold Wand, Vivionn and Award Scheme take out the top 3 placings.


The Ebor Cup is on this Saturday at York. The top 3 will pass the first ballot clause for the Melbourne Cup. Very close at the top of betting with a few runners of potential Australian interest. True Self has already nominated for the Cox Plate, hoping to see similar success as to when he won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes last year. Pondus is a fellow Cox nominee and perhaps Ghostwatch will be aimed at either of our Cups.